§ 32. Mr. A. SOMERVILLE (for Sir COOPER RAWSON)asked the Attorney-General if he has considered the case of many women in this country who married soldiers from the Dominions during the War but have been deserted by their husbands for over 14 years and are now left with children and no means; and will he consider some amendment of the divorce laws to enable these women to secure their freedom without incurring the expense of instituting proceedings in the Dominions instead of at home?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL (Sir Boyd Merriman)It is not possible to state within the limits of an answer to a question the many difficulties in the way of legislation of the kind suggested. It would involve, among other things, an alteration of the law of this country so as to make desertion alone a ground for divorce. It would also involve legislation, similar to that which was in force for a short period after the War, conferring a separate domicile upon the wife for the purpose of divorce proceedings; and even if this alteration was made, a divorce granted to a wife would not be recognised in the Dominion concerned without reciprocal legislation. The situation is to some extent met by the Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act, 1920. The reciprocal legislation which most of the Dominions have passed in relation to this Act enables a deserted wife to enforce a maintenance order against her husband in those Dominions.